Door closing device for cars



p 13, 1932- w. F. DIETRICHSON DOOR CLOSING DEVICE FOR CARS Filed Feb.27, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet p 13, 1932- .w. F DIETRICHSON DOOR CLOSINGDEVICE FOR CARS Filed Feb. 27. 1.950

2. Sheets-sheet 2 Patented Sept. 13, 1932 WILLIAM F. DIETRICHSON,

FOUNDRY COMPANY,

OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR T AMERICAN CAR AND OF NEW YORK, N. Y.,A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY noon crosme DEVICE roncans Application filedFebruary 27, 1930. Serial No. 431,868.

This invention relates to devices for closing the drop doors which, formthe bottoms of cars used for transporting material in bulk, generallycoal, sand or a similar article and which doors are operated to dump thecar ladings into bins or chutes while the cars continue in motion and itis an object of this invention to provide a device which willautomatically close the doors of suchcars while they continue in motionand which will close the doors of such cars without injury to the doorsor to the device despite variations in the speeds of the cars and in theheight of the doors, when closed, above the rails. It is also an objectof this invention to provide a device of the class described which willautomatically return towards a predetermined position after eachoperation for enagement with the next succeeding door, which will bepositively stopped in the predetermined position with a minimum blow tothe device and which will yield to prevent damage to doors which areslightly lower than the standard height above the rails.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of a door closing device constructedin accordance with this invention in position to engage with the leadingdoor of a car to close the same, it being understood that the car ismoving towards the right in this figure;

Fig. 2 is a partial View, similar to Fig. 1 in which the car has movedfurther to the right than in Fig. 1 and the leading door has been raisedto closed position by the door closing device and is about to passtherefrom; i

Fig. 3 is a partial view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 in which the car hasmoved still further to the right; the leading door'has passed from thedoor closing device and the door closing device has moved back towardsits normal position and has engaged with the following door;

Fig. 4 is a top plan View of the door closing device drawn to a largerscale and shown detached from the track;

Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation of the door closing device, partsbeing broken away to show other parts more clearly and the device beingshown in solid lines in the raised or final position and in broken linesin its normal or lowered position in which it initially contacts withthe doors; and

Fig. 6 is a view in end elevation, looking from the right in Fig. 5 andshowing the door closing device in its raised position.

In the drawings a door closing means 1 constructed in accordance withthis invention is shown in connection with a car 2 of suitableconstruction for use therewith, the car being of the drop bottom typehaving a plurality of drop doors which are adapted to be operated fordumping by suitable door tripping mechanism and afterwards to be engagedsuccessively by the door closing means shown clearly in side elevationin Fig. 5' whereby said doors are forced to closed position. The doorclosing device 1 comprises a frame formed of spaced elements l and 6,I-beams in the instance shown, and an upper frame member indicatedgenerally at 7 constituting a tie between the elements 4 and 6 as willbe more clearly described hereinafter. The elements 4 and 6 have bearingbrackets 8 attached to their lower ends and are journaled on pins 10mounted in bearing brackets 12 attached to a support or base member 14:shown as a channel having its web 16 arranged horizontally and itsflanges projecting downwardly. The base member 14: is attached to asuitable foundation 18 by means of suitable fasteners such as the bolts20; the foundation 18 and the door closing device being positionedbetween track rails in order that the door closing member may cooperatewith the open doors of the drop bottom cars during movement of said carswhereby to force the doors to closed position. At their upper ends theI-beams 4t and 6 have bearing brackets 22 attached thereto and the tieor upper frame member 7 extends between the elements 4 and 6 andcomprises a pair of angles 28 having inwardly projecting flanges towhich are attached bearing brackets 80 through which pins mounted inbrackets 22 at the upper ends of the elements 4.- and 6. The member 7thus connects the elements 4 and 6 as will be ap- 24 and 26 extend, saidpins being parent. The I-beams 4 and 6 serve as links to connect the tiemember formed of the angles 28 to the base 14 and form with the tiemember a frame all the joints of which are pivot joints and which alwayskeeps the tie member substantially parallel to the base member 14.

The pin 26 in the upper end of the I-beam 6 projects beyond the bearingbrackets 22 and has mounted thereon bearing brackets 32 attached to aninverted pan-shaped door engaging member 34 substantially adjacent oneend thereof. The other end of the door engaging member 34 is supportedupon,a

plurality of springs 36 which bear upon a plate 38 which ties theinwardly projecting flanges of angles 28. The springs 36 are secured inposition by studs 40 attached to the member 34 and upward movement ofthe end of the member 34 is limited by a bolt 42 which extends throughthe plate 38 and is attached to the door engaging member 34 as To theI-beam 4 is attached a lurality of cables 46 which extend over pu leys48 and are attached to a weight 50. The pulleys 48 are supported by aframe comprising spaced vertical angles 54 and spaced inclined an les55, the vertical angles 54 being attache at their lower ends to the web16 of the base 14 by angle gussets 56 and connected at their top by atie plate 58. The inclined angles are attached to the web 16 of the basemember 14 by angle gussets 60 and are connected together adjacent theirupper ends b a tie plate 62. The upper ends of the a jacent verticalangle 54 and inclined angle 55 are connected by side tie plates 64rovided with openings for receiving the en of a pin 52 upon which thepulleys 48 are mounted. The

weight 50 has its sides notched as at 66 to receive the inwardlyprojecting flanges of the angles 54 which serve as guides for the weight50 and its lower end is notched to fit the inwardly projecting portionof the gussets 56.

To limit the movement of the I-beams or links 4 and 6 there is provideda plurality of substantially pan-shaped stop members 70 which are joinedback to back and secured by their flanges 72v to the web 16 of the basemember 14. The members 7 O are provided with flanges 74 which areengaged by the web of the I-beam 6 when the device has been moved to itsfully raised position by engagement with a door and with flanges 76which are engaged by the web of the I-be'am 4 when the device is in itsnormal or lowered position.

In the operation of this device, as a car moves to the right in Figs. 1,2 and 3, the leading door 78 will engage with the rounded end 80 of thedoor engaging member 34 and shift the door closing device from itsnormal position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5, until the web of I-beam 6engages with the flanges 74 a rees? the door to a position in which thelatches 82 will engage with the lugs 84 on the door and hold the door inclosed position. After the door 78 has passed beyond the door engagingmember 34 the door closing device will return to its normal position. Itwill be noted that when the door engaging member 34 has been moved toits fully raised position with the web of the I-beam 6 in engagementwith the flanges 74 the weight 50 rests upon the base 14 and there isslack in the cables 46. This slack is left in order to permit of theready movement of the device from its fully raised position towards itsnormal position, the slack being taken up before the device has returnedto its normal position whereupon the weight 50 tends to slow themovement of the device and lessen the shock of the I-beam 4 against theflanges 76 of the stop members 7 0.. a In order to lessen the blow ofthe doo against the curved end 80 of the door engaging member 34 thereis provided a member 86, shown as a channel member, which extends acrossthe chute or hopper opening and is positioned to engage the lowerportion of the door and initiate the closing movement of the door beforethe door engages with the door engaging member 34. In order to in-- surethe full closing movement of the doors despite slight variations in theheight of the doors above the rails, the springs 36 are provided whichelevate the trailing end of the door closing member 34 to a positionabove that necessary to close the doors normally. The springs 36,however, yield to permit the doors to pass over the member 34 and insurean elevation of the door closing member 34 which will close doors whichare slightly higher when closed than the normal door.

After closing the leading door 78 and being released thereby the doorclosing device returns towards its normal position to be operated andreleased by the following doors 88 and 90 in the same manner. While thepreferred form of the invention has been shown and described it is to beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the exact details ofconstruction shown and described as it is apparent that variousmodifications thereof within the scope of the claims will occur topersons skilled in the art. It is also to be understood that the wordframe'used in this specification is not to be restricted to aconstruction which includes merely spaced members such as 4 and 6 asobviously the construction of the supporting means for the 3. In a doorclosing device, a support, a-

frame pivotally mounted thereon, a door engaging member supported by theframe and pivotally connected at one end thereto and. means limiting themovement of said frame.

4. In a door closing device, a support, a frame pivotally mountedthereon, a door engaging member carried by the frame and pivotallyconnected at one end thereto, and means slowing the movement of saidframe in one direction. p

5. In a door closing device, a door engaging member, a-"pivotallyjointed and supported frame pivotally supporting an end of said memberand resilient means on said frame yieldingly supporting the other end ofsaid member. Y

6. In a door closing device, a" door engaging member, apivotally-jointed-frame pivotally supporting the leading end of saidmember, means carried by said frame yieldingly supporting the trailingend of said member, means limiting movement of said frame by the doorsand means toretard the return movement of said frame.

7 In a door closing device, a door engaging member, a pivotally jointedframe to which said door engaging member'is pivotally connected at oneend thereof, means carried by said frame yieldingly supporting the otherend of said member, stops limiting movement of said frame in bothdirections and means retarding movement of said frame in one direction.

8. In a door closing device, a door engaging member, a pivotally jointedand supported frame to which said door engaging member is pivotallyconnected at one end thereof, means yieldingly supportin the other endof said member above said fi'ame, said frame raising said member as saidframe and member are moved by a door, and

a stop to limit the movement of said frame' and cause the door to passover said member,

said yielding means permitting the end of said member to be forceddownward as the door asses over said member.

9. n a door closing device, a door engaging member, a pivotally jointedand supported frame to which said door engaging member is pivotallyconnected at one end thereof, means on said frame supporting the otherend of said member above said frame, a sto holding said frame in anormal position or engaging said member with an open door on a movingcar, said frame raising said member as said frame and member are movedby the door, and a stop to limit the movement of said frame and causethe door to pass over said member, said means yielding to permit saidmember to be forced down as the door passes over said member.

10. In a door closing device, a support, a plurality of links pivotallyconnected to said support, a tie member pivotally connected to the upperends of said links, a door engaging member pivotally connected to thelinks at one end and yieldingly supported on said tie member at theother end.

11. In a door closing device, a support, a plurality of links pivotallyconnected to said support, a tie member pivotally connected to the upperends of said links, a door engaging member having one end pivotallyconnected to one of said links at the joint between said link and tiemember, springs supporting the other end of said door engaging memberfrom said tie member, stops engaging said links to limit movementthereof in both directions and a counterweight to slow movement of saldllIlkS in one dlrection.

12. In a door closing device, a support, a plurality of links pivotallyconnected to said support, a tie member pivotally connected to the upperends of said links, a door engaging member pivotally connected at oneend to said tie member and yieldingly supported at its other end fromsaid tie member, means engaging said links to limit movement thereof andmeans slowing the latter part of the movement of said links in onedirection.

13. In a door closing device, a support, a frame pivoted thereto, a doorengaging member carried by and pivotally connected to said frame, a stopto limit movement of said frame in both directions and means to retardmovement of said frame in one direction.

14. In a device of the kind described, a pivotally mounted frame, a stopfor normally holding the frame in a position to be engaged by the opendoor of a moving car, said door causing pivotal movement of said framein a direction such as to urge the door to closed position, and stopmeans for limiting the shifting movement of said frame.

15. In a device of the kind described, a

- pivotally mounted frame, astop for normal- 16. In a door closingdevice, a support, a frame pivoted to the support, a door closing memberpivotally connected to said frame, and a stop member cooperativelyassociated with the frame for limiting pivotal movement of the latter inboth directions.

17 A closing device for drop bottom car doors comprising a support, aframe pivotally connected to the support, a door engaging member carriedby the frame and with which the doors contact to be forced to closedposi tion, and yielding means on the frame for absorbing shocks to whichthe door engaging member is subjected b the doors.

18. A door closing evice for drop bottom cars comprising a pivotallmounted frame, and a door engagin .member ivotally and yieldablysupporte by said rame.

19. In a door closing device, a frame comprising parallel pivoted sidemembers, a door engaging member carried by the frame and pivotallyconnected at one end thereto, and a stop arranged between said sidemembers for limiting pivotal movement of said frame.

20. In a door closing device, a frame comprising parallel side members,a base to which said side members are pivoted for shifting movement intwo directions, a door engaging member pivotally connected at one.

end to said frame, resilient means for yieldingly supporting the otherend of said door engaging member, and a stop arranged between said sidemembers for limiting shifting movement of the frame in both directions.

21. In a door closing device, a base, a frame pivotally secured to thebase and including an upper frame member, a door engagin membersupported by the frame and pivota lly connected at one end thereof tosaid frame, and yielding means for supporting the other end of said doorengaging member.

22. In a door closing device, a base, a frame pivotally secured to thebase and including an upper frame member, a door engagin membersupported by the frame and pivota ly connected at one end thereof tosaid frame, and yielding means interposed between the upper frame memberand the other end of said door engaging member for resiliently suporting the door engaging member at said other end.

23. In a door closing device, a support, a frame mounted on the supportand capable of limited shifting movement in two directions, and a doorengaging member arranged longitudinally of the frame and having one endthereof pivoted to said frame.

24. In a door closing device, a door engaging member, a pivotally ointedand supported frame for supporting said member and to which the latteris pivotally connected at one end, resilient means supporting the otherend of said member, means with which said frame cooperates for limitingpivotal movement thereof and for normally holding said frame inclined tothe vertical, said door closing device being arranged between trackrails in a position such that the door engaging member contacts the opendoor of a moving car whereby movement of said car shifts the frame onits pivotal mounting.

25. In a door closing device, a support, a frame pivoted to the supportand normally arranged at an angle inclined tothe vertical, a doorengaging member pivotally secured at one end to said frame, and means onthe frame for yieldingly supporting the other end of said member, theframe being positioned between track rails and the pivoted end of saiddoor engaging member being so arranged relative to the path of movementof a moving car as to be engaged by an open car door whereby continuedmovement of the car causes the door to shift the frame from its normalposition towards a vertical position to cause said door engaging memberto force the door to closed position.

26. In a door closing device, a support, a frame pivotally securedthereto, a door engaging member arranged longitudinally of the frame andhaving one end pivotally connected to said frame, and a stop mounted onthe support for normally holding the frame at an angle inclined to thevertical.

27. In a door closing device, a support, a frame pivotally securedthereto, a door engaging member arranged longitudinally of the frame andhaving one end pivotally connected to said frame, and a stop mountedon'the support for normally holding the frame at an angle inclined tothe vertical and for limiting pivotal movement of said frame in bothdirections.

28. In a door closing device for drop bottom cars, a support arrangedbetween track rails, a frame pivoted to the support and including spacedconnected links, and a stop member intermediate the links andcooperating with the latter to limit pivotal movement of the frame inboth directions.

29. In a door closing device for drop bottom cars, a support arrangedbetween track rails, a frame ivoted to the support and including spacedupright frame elements, and a stop member intermediate the frameelements and cooperating with the latter to limit pivotal movement ofthe frame in both directions, said stop member being so formed andarranged as to normally retain the frame elements at an angle inclinedto the vertical.

30. In a door closing device, a door engaging member, and a pivotallyjointed and supported frame to which said door engaging member ispivotally and resiliently secured, said engaging member being adapted tobe contacted by an open door ofa moving car to move said frame on itspivot to permit the door engaging member to be elevated whereby to forcethe door to closed position.

31. A door closing device for drop bottom cars comprisin a supportarranged between track rails, a rame pivoted to the support, a fixedabutment cooperatively associated with the frame for limiting pivotalmovement of the latter in both directions, said frame being arranged inthe path of movement of an open door of a moving car and being adaptedto contact said door and to urge the same to closed position uponcontinued movement of the car, and door engaging means with which anopen door of said moving car contacts to partially close the door priorto contact of said door with said door closing de- V106.

32. In a device of the kind described, a pivotally and yieldably mounteddoor closing member, and shiftable means supporting said member in aposition to engage the open door of a moving car.

33. In a device of the kind described, a pivotally and yieldably mounteddoor closing member, shiftable means supporting said member in aposition to engage the open door of a moving car, and fixed abutmentmeans for limiting the movement of said shiftable means. I

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

WILLIAM F. DIETRICHSON.

